Calls demand help for Chesterfield's self-employed workers during coronavirus crisis

Toby Perkins has joined business leaders in warning that Britain’s five-million strong army of self employed people will be left out of pocket and in financial crisis if the government doesn’t offer them the same protection as employed workers.

Mr Perkins said: “I was very pleased by the generous package of support for employers to retain their employees during the coronavirus pandemic announced by the Government a few days ago and I was immediately contacted by local businesses and workers who were relieved by the commitment.

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“But I was also contacted by self-employed people who felt forgotten about and were now worried about their livelihoods and ability to pay their bills.

“I have now written to the Chancellor to suggest that the Government set up a scheme as a matter of urgency that will allow the self-employed to provide HMRC with the details of their average earnings and allow them to claim 80 per cent of their earnings if they are out of pocket, in a similar manner to that which is being offered to ordinary furloughed employees.”

Mike Watkinson, development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, said: “Toby has always been a champion for the self-employed and I am grateful he is backing FSB members once again in Chesterfield with this intervention to the Chancellor.

“Many local sole traders are at their wits' end, frightened at their business falling away and staring at the prospect of little or financial support during this unprecedented crisis.

“It is simply not right that they have only been offered £94 a week with many being turned down for Universal Credit after applying in a last ditch attempt to survive.

“Our message, as is Toby’s, to the Government is do the right thing and don’t let the self-employed walk the plank during this outbreak – more support for them is now urgently required.”

The Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Federation of Small Businesses has almost 500 Chesterfield-based self employed and micro businesses among its membership.